On becoming a dad

In about a month’s time, I will welcome my little daughter into the world.

A child is something Carol and I have wanted for a long time, and now it’s really about to happen… We are so grateful for God’s precious blessing, and for the smooth pregnancy so far. After months of scrambling to doctor’s appointments, scans, tests, childbirth classes, scouring baby shops for furniture and clothes, we are ready as any first-time parents can be. Which means we’ve done all we humanly can, and now we wait with bated breath for nature to take its course.

After that, it’s uncharted territory.

Our little miracle, you have been growing so well from the first time we saw you as a little blue grape on a screen. Now, you move with so much energy you take your mother’s breath away – quite literally. When I rest my hand on mummy’s belly, you press back as if to tell me how strong you’ve become. When I sing to you my favourite songs from Mary Poppins, you pause for a while to listen, then you kick my mouth.

I can’t wait to meet you, carry you against my chest so you can fall asleep to the sound of my heart beating; to look into your eyes and know that – for now – we are all you need; to hear you cry, laugh and one day, speak; to have you run and hug me below my knees when I get home; to watch you grow up…

There’s a room in our home we’ve set aside for you from the first day we moved in. It’s painted bright yellow. It will be all yours when you arrive. Here it is… it’s pretty much ready. We’ve worked so hard on it and we’re so happy you’ll be here soon.